Small Beans

Brooks Brown, a curator of odd cinema and host of Deleuze reading groups, dives into Phil Tippett's experimental horror film, Mad God. The discussion highlights Tippett's incredible craftsmanship and explores the film's stunning visuals contrasted with its narrative complexities. They question whether the rich imagery conveys a coherent message or falls into a meandering tone poem. Themes of cyclical violence and moral ambiguity arise, alongside critiques of the film's pacing and production choices after a strong start. Brooks also promotes his Deleuze reading group for those intrigued by film and philosophy.

It’s a Wes month. This time we discuss his 2007 film The Darjeeling Limited which tells the story of three brothers embarking on a spiritual journey through their mutual and personal grief. The boys talk about why it feels different from other Anderson films, how grief and romance are treated in Anderson films, and how the writing reveals a genuine desire to interact with Indian culture but ultimately discloses a form of privilege from the writer/director. Features: Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

We covered Brandon Cronenberg’s Possessor from 2020. It’s features an assassin who takes over other people’s bodies, murders a mark, and then kills the host body. Tom Reimann joins us for this fun little jaunt about the death of empathy! I thought we kept the podcast pretty fun though. We had a good time. This episode was brought to you by Zac Schwartz, who got to choose the movie by signing up for the Pick the Flick tier on patreon, which you can do right now! Features: Tom Reimann: https://twitter.com/startthemachine Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

This week the professor discusses the nature of Karate and it’s function in our world. We are blessed to have with us decorated bodybuilder, secret spy, and champion of a number of martial arts organizations, all of which exist, Sensei Grabowski who talks to us about beautiful women, punching, and cancel culture. Also, a $3000 karate tournament. Features: Professor Scott Bug: https://twitter.com/profscottbug Seanbaby: https://twitter.com/seanbabydotcom Cody Johnston: https://twitter.com/drmistercody Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

This show goes over the short stories of Michael’s favorite speculative fiction author and notable curmudgeon Harlan Ellison. Each episode Michael pairs (read: forces a friend to read) a short story with a guest that it “applies especially to.” This episode it’s the short story “I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream” and the guest is George Heftler. Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP George Heftler: https://twitter.com/littlehorrorphl Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

Adam and Abe talk about Rob Reiner’s technique, Nora Ephron’s writing, and what aspects of rom-coms have persisted through generations. Features: Adam Ganser: https://twitter.com/therealganz Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

Join the chaotic journey through the multiverse as three quirky hosts ponder existential themes and outrageous scenarios, like a universe made entirely of baked beans. They dive deep into the emotional and philosophical implications of 'Everything Everywhere All At Once,' exploring how connection and community foster healing. With a blend of humor and reflection, they dissect action versus emotion in storytelling, while playfully inventing the whimsical 'Gansiverse.' Expect laughter, insights, and a delightful take on our cultural obsession with parallel worlds.

We covered The Greasy Strangler, an anti-comedy film that pushes the reality of what we’d call “a movie.” Griffin Rowell joins us for a conversation about the absolute madness of the story and the gross visual aesthetic it deploys. Mostly, we talk about how the movie broke Abe. Features: Griffin Rowell Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

It’s a Paul month. This time we discuss his 2007 film There Will Be Blood which tells the story of Daniel Plainview, an oilman who leaves a wake of destruction pursuing his need to amass wealth and power. The boys talk capitalism, practical effects, and how Paul Thomas Anderson has matured through his movies. Features: Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

Our collective friend and honorary Small Bean Griffin Rowell walks us through the capitalist concepts driving the current metaverse, the recent crash, and the potential methods we can use to build it into something more open-sourced. Resident dummy Michael asks all the questions you may have had but were too afraid to (or just had no interest in) asking about whatever all of this is. https://decentraland.org/ https://www.cryptovoxels.com/ https://www.sandbox.game/en/ Features: Griffin Rowell: https://twitter.com/Griffisaurus Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691